THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 171, 1 August 1874, Page 2

THE WEEK.

It ia difficult this year to keep pace with tho work of the Parliament. The telegraph reports day after day, (he introduction of new Bills, their first, second, and third readings, and passing, the appointment of Select Committees, replies to important questions, and so on, until one is apt to becoms puzzled and confused, and to have but aa indistinct idea of what is really being done. Members appear to have met in Wellington with a determination to get their work done, and to return to their homes as soon as possible. The public affairs of the colony are daily assuming greater magnitude, and its importance i 3 rapidly increasing, and yet the work of legislation is this year to be performed in something like half the time that ii usually occupies. A seven weeks' session is, co far as I can recollect, a thing as yet unheard of, even in the early days when the population was nothing compared with what it is now, and the exports and imports, and revenue and expenditure were but very trifling when viewed by the side of the returns that are set before us in the present day, and yet it is probable that such is about the length of time our representatives will be required to be absent from home this year. Of course this is mainly owing to the strong position in which the Government finds itself, and the virtual absence of any organised Opposition, but I wonder whether the length of the session is in any way influenced by the fact that members are not now paid by the day, but receive a lump sum by way of honorarium. This would be an interesting question for some inquisitive person to take up and inquire into.

It seems strange, but it 18 none the less true that, although Nelson affairs have received more consideration at the hands of the Government this year than on any previous occasion, the present session has nevertheless proved one of disappointment to residents in this provinoo. It may be that we expected too much — by too much I do not mean more than we were entitled to, but more than we were likely to get— but whatever the reason, the fact remaias that not one of usissatisfled. We wanted permission to borrow a quarter of a million, instead of which we are promised an advance of £50,000; we hoped, and we fully believed, that the extension of our railway beyond Foxhill would form part of the works to be carried out tLia year, whereas, we are told that the utmost that we can expect is that another survey of the proposed line shall be undertaken. I must ndmif, and I imagine that we shall all be compelled to admit, that the reasons given by Mr Yogel to the deputation of Nelson members are sufficient to justify another year's delay in the commencement of the work to the completion of which we are looking forward. Mr Rochfort, it appears, hns reported that it will cost the enormous sura of £8000 a mile if taken along the route at present proposed, and, however disheartening it may be, it is not to be expected that the Government would propose, or the Assembly sinction, so large an expenditure. It would appear, however, from the brief telegram which conveys the news to the public, that there is a possibility of such deviations being made in the line as will reduce the cost to a reasonable amount. In the meantime, we should, perhaps, feel thankful for the small amount of comfort to be extracted from the Premier's statement that the Government consider themselves pledged to the construction of a line connecting Nelson with Grey mouth, It seems to be merely a question of time, but unfortunately with us time means money. However, we are to get £50,000 for our main trunk line of road, and, we hope, thongh as yet there is nothing certain about it, that the £30,000 loan for the construction of a wharf and dock will be allowed, so that we shall not be altogether without public works during the coming year.

This is becoming a great country for English mails. Within the last week we have received one by way of San Francisco and another via Suez. We have sent one by the former route, and shall follow it up with another this evening; we have despatched one by way of Suez, and shall probably see it notified that a supplementary bag or two will be made up to be forwarded by the Albion in addition to those already sent by the Tararua. I suppose all those numerous opportunities for corresponding with the old country are convenient to some extent, but they must be not a little bothering to men of business, who always like to avail themselves of the latest opportunity, but now can never tell for certain when that is likely to occur. I think that some of our merchants of the olden days would have been a little incredulous had anyone ventured to predict that the time would come when the future heads of of the establishments they were then founding would be able to commence their letters to their London correspondents on the 28th of July in these words : — " Yours of the 4th ult. to hand." Still there is one little improvement in our postal arrangements that I am very anxious to have placed on record as having been effected. I would like to be able to say that the San Francisco Mail, like that via Suez, had arrived a whole week before it was due. But I am afraid I shall be a grey haired old man when that time , comes. . .1

If we can boast of the speed with which our mails are carried in these days of progress, there is oue other little matter, not altogether unimportant to men engaged in commerce, in regard to winch we in Nelson certainly have not advanced, but, if anything retrograded. Thn telegraph is conl staatly engaged in iu forming us that at all the other ports of the colony English ships have arrived in 75, 80 and 85 days, while a message 'from Nelson stating that another vessel has entered the harbor from England has to be worded somewhat as follows :— "Arrived, La Paix, 150 days from London." How is it that no English vessel ever makes a emart run te Nelson ? I remember hearing it aaid a few weeks ago, " Just wait till the Adaraart arrives, and she'll show you what can be done." But the Adamant is bound for Nelson, and so, although she is now 87 days out, and other vessels have recently arrived at other potts iv far leas time, she has not yet given the signalman any work. There can bo do question that, as a rule, consignees in Nelaon have to submit to their goods being shipped in vessels that couldn't give Noah's Ark, if it could only bo floated again, twelve hours* start between England and New Zealand, and I wonder they don't kick against it. Elsewhere cargoes arrive, are disposed of, and the money received long ere the old tubs that occasionally grace our harbor have commenced to discharge. We are a long-suffering people here id more ways than one.